Which resolution to render slideshow for projection at wedding?

[bigass]

Heya, gang.

I've been spending weeks in Sony Vegas editing a slideshow-style video for my wedding next weekend. Test renderings have looked fabulous with the NTSC DV 24p template, viewed on the TV or on the PC.

The plan is to take my netbook (Asus EEEpc 1000HE) to the venue and project through the wedding venue's LCD projector via the VGA output. I've put in a request to find out the model# of their projector, so I can look up native resolution and other info.

My question: given the eee's 'limitations' (though it seems to be no slouch, I don't want to take the chance of stuttering), what's my best bet for rendering the final product?

My initial plan has been just to render it to NTSC DV 24p and feed it to the projector ... but I'm curious if rendering to the projector's native resolution, and perhaps a different framerate, might give better results. Also curious if I should bother with mpg or any fancy codecs, given that quality and performance trumps any storage space concerns.

Your thoughts?

[Brainiac]

Hi there

For the last 2 years, I have done slideshows for my son's school auction using Proshow. Delivery format is a standard DVD, 720x480, and shown through a projector. Quality was excellent!

The projector was about 5-15 feet from the screen.

If you can get to the venue a day or two before the wedding, perhaps you can do a test viewing to get an idea of what the final product will look like.

Brainiac

[bigass]

Thanks for the thoughts.

I'll be burning a DVD and bringing a DVD player for backup, but I'm fairly committed to using the computer for playback, as the netbook will be providing incidental music, entrance music, and DJ (itunes) functions. It'll be quite the little workhorse.

Glad to hear, though, that a projector will handle DVD resolution nicely.

Any other thoughts? Render for native resolution, or some other?

[jagabo]

You can't make a DVD slideshow at the projectors native resolution. NTSC DVDs only support 720x480, 352x480, and 352x240.

[bigass]

You can't make a DVD slideshow at the projectors native resolution. NTSC DVDs only support 720x480, 352x480, and 352x240.

Thanks for pointing out that fact, but I'm not out to make a DVD anything, except for backup.

I'm looking to render a video file that'll be played out the VGA port of a netbook to an LCD projector. I'll re-render a version for DVD only for backup, in case the netbook catches fire or turns evil on me.

[jagabo]

Rendering a hi res slideshow will look better than a video resolution slideshow -- as long as your graphics card and projecter can agree on a high resolution connection (via DVI, HDMI, component, or VGA). Anything over s-video or composite will be standard def video.

[edDV]

Does the netbook support dual monitor resolutions? If not you will need to adjust the netbook and VGA output to the same resolution in clone mode. You will need to experiment with all this on site. Better test the netbook on a computer monitor first to get used to the settings.

Typical projector supported VGA resolutions are 800x600, 1024x768 or 1280x1024. These are usually 4x3 aspect.

Have a DVD for backup.

[bigass]

edDV, thanks for the excellent reply.

I'm not certain on having the netbook send different resolutions to the monitor and the projector ... it may, but I'm not sure.

I do know that I have easy access to three screen resolutions -- the default native resolution for the monitor, 800x600, and 1024x768.

Just found out the projector model#, and its native resolution is 800x600. Any other resolution will be scaled to fit.

So, it sounds like my best bet may be to clone the desktop to monitor at 800x600 for both.

My curiosity still stands about rendering the video: render to 800x600 to max out the usable pixelage, or render to a typical DV resolution and let the computer do the scaling? And if 800x600 ... well, since it's a netbook and I don't wanna risk hiccups from codecs stressing the CPU, what'd be a safe bet for a container/codec?

And yes, I'll render a version to DVD as well, just in case everything goes kerflooey.

[jagabo]

With an 800x600 slideshow you won't have problems with CPU power. I'd use Xvid and AVI. Xvid in target quantizer mode, Q=2.

[bigass]

Thanks, jagabo, for the suggestion.

Everyone agree, or are there dissenting opinions?

[greymalkin]

the native resolution of the display device is always the right answer :P. you just need to make sure your netbook can handle it. you've got plenty time to go through test runs.

When I made an XGA slideshow for a friends wedding I actually found it was more "hiccup free" by placing the video file on a usb/pen drive and playing it from there. Also, use a lightweight player! It can make a big difference! I used media player classic.

[bigass]

Good call on the media player. I love Media Player Classic Homecinema. I'm considering figuring out how to write a batchfile for the video so the MC or assigned person can just launch that, and have the video start fullscreen. But, heh, that's another topic.

[jagabo]

MPCHC has a "Launch files in fullscreen" option. View -> Options -> Player -> Open Options...

[edDV]

Your netbook display is probably 16x9 while the projector is probably 4x3.

[greymalkin]

Hi yes the .bat file is what I used.

I think the command in your .bat file is as simple as:
mplayerc.exe <file path\filename> /fullscreen

edit the <file path\filename> part, stick it in a .txt file and rename it to a .bat file, stick it, mplayer classic, and the video file in the same directory and you should be good to go.

you can also make text file playlists and have the .bat file reference the playlist as well, but for a single slideshow that won't be necessary.

I would also put 3 or so seconds of black at the beginning and end of the slideshow. Then you can keep the cap on, hit the .bat file, and take it off so all the audience sees is a black screen before the show starts..then when it finishes cap it off again during the trailing black video.

[bigass]

Your netbook display is probably 16x9 while the projector is probably 4x3.

Natively, yes. But I think I'll switch the netbook's screen res to 800x600 and clone it to the projector. It'll look smooshed on the 'puter, but the projected image will look gorgeous.

[edDV]

Your netbook display is probably 16x9 while the projector is probably 4x3.

Natively, yes. But I think I'll switch the netbook's screen res to 800x600 and clone it to the projector. It'll look smooshed on the 'puter, but the projected image will look gorgeous.

Yes just so you optimize for the projector. It will looka h stretched on the Netbook.

Best to test on a 4:3 VGA computer monitor before you go.

[bigass]

Great idea... I'll haul out the old monitor and give it a run-through before the onsite mayhem!

[bigass]

Hey, all .. thanks for all the tips.

The wedding went great! The slideshow was a major, major, major hit. I'm entirely delighted with the results. Our photographer said she usually leaves before the slideshows start, because 98% of the time they're utterly horrible...but suggests she'll refer me to clients who want video presentations, 'cuz she so enjoyed this one.

I went with 800x600, xvid avi, 24p, encoded straight from Vegas. Played from the netbook with VGA out to the projector, audio out through a Behringer USB interface ... smooth, no hiccups, and it looked fabulous.

I'm going to re-render the slideshow and get to work in the next few weeks cooking up a DVD of wedding stuff for the guests who requested a copy...and for my own personal archiving. I ran a MiniDV camcorder during the ceremony, some of the speeches, and a bit of the dancing. I have no idea if much of the footage looks any good at all -- as the groom, I had to give up the videographic duties to a hastily-placed tripod... but my brain is brimming with ideas for using that footage as a 'master shot' and using everyone else's video & photos for cutaways and alternate angles.

Thanks again ...

[edDV]

You were the groom?

[Brainiac]

Any chance of posting a bit of the slideshow online?

Brainiac

[bigass]

Oh yeah .. I might not've mentioned that in my earlier posts ..

Yup, I was the groom. So I only had a few jobs -- foremost among them being the coordination, setup and management of everything A/V. That included renting the PA system, setting up the dance playlist in iTunes, arranging musical cues, setting up the mics and whatnot ... soundcheck for the soloist, etc. ... and the bigass slideshow.

I'll see about getting it up online somewhere. It's about 12 minutes long, and I know YouTube's limit is 10 minutes. I'd split it and put it up right now, but I'm on my honeymoon at a Nova Scotia resort with a roaring fire...and my new wife is lying here on the bed asking what I'm doing on the computer again.

Such a nerd.

[edDV]

Really surprised the bride and especially her mom (if present) went along with this.

I've done video "pro bono" for a few friend's weddings but only on the condition that the mother of the bride supplies a B-roll camera person and an extrovert "on camera" talent for the interviews. The wedding co-ordinator and still photographer are to be instructed to cooperate. They can really be obstructive.

Major issues usually come down to adequate lighting for video and placing wireless mics on the key people.

[Brainiac]

Enjoy that honeymoon! Sounds like a GREAT place to be right about now.

Vimeo can do more than 10 minutes.

Brainiac

[Brainiac]

In the few weddings that I have done for friends, I've come to the conclusion that it can be stressful for the videographer as well. EdDV, you are as right as rain, photographers can be VERY obtrusive. The one's I've dealt with thought their shots were the only ones that mattered.

Brainiac

[Cornucopia]

Aaahhh, Nova Scotia. Down a few brews, eat some great seafood chowder, and enjoy the woods and coast for me, eh? Oh yeah, and don't forget your wife while you're there.

Glad to hear all went as hoped.
Congratulations!

Scott

[bigass]

Thanks for the well wishes, gang!

Signed up to Vimeo and posted the video that ran at the wedding.

Here 'tis: http://vimeo.com/7072228

Feedback welcome ...

Cheers!